Austin golfers break through
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, April 25, 2000
<A HREF=mailto:news@austindailyherald.com> From staff reports
There’s no doubting the talent of the Austin boys’ golf team.
Tuesday, April 25, 2000
There’s no doubting the talent of the Austin boys’ golf team. But at 0-2 entering Monday, the Packers were still searching for a winning edge.
The Packers finally found it by picking up their first dual match win of the season, beating Albert Lea 311 to 319 at the Austin Country Club.
Packers David Lorenzen and Brian Duren earned co-medalist honors with 18-hole scores of 77.
Teammate Chris Larson shot a 78 and Greg Williamson rounded out the team total with a 79.
"It’s good to get on the winning track," Austin coach Claudia Pilot said. "This is a solid team score."
Adam Plotts, who led the Packers with a fourth-place individual finish at the Tri-State Invite last weekend, shot a 80 and Jeff Clark an 82. Their scores were not among the top four and therefore were dropped from the team total.
"Again it was someone else stepping to the fore for Austin," said Pilot referring to Lorenzen and Duren. "It’s nice to know we have such depth on this team that it isn’t always one player leading the way."
Lorenzen had a roller coaster round with three birdies and three double bogeys. Duren was steadier with six bogeys and a birdie.
Williamson also had a pair of double bogeys – something Pilot would like to see her golfers curb.
"It seems right now the blow-up holes are what needs to be eliminated," she said. "Once we do that, we’ll be shooting some real low score."
Dan Breuer led Albert Lea with a 78. No other Tiger broke 80.
"I’m pleased with our steady improvement," said Pilot, whose Packers play in Wednesday’s Mayo Invite.
Pilot also got good news from down on the farm Monday. Austin’s Nos. 7-12 players won a junior varsity 15-team tournament in Lakeville.
Freshman Matt Bal led the way, earning medalist honors with an 80.
The team score was 332, 10 strokes better than runner-up Lakeville. Austin’s other scores were: Andy Erichson 83, Eric Wagner 84, Joey Mohrfeld 85, Jamie Knudtson 85 and Matt Engelhardt 87.
Austin’s Nos. 13-18 players stayed home to take on the Albert Lea JV, which won 330 to 332. Austin’s Cole Berhow earned medalist honors with a 77. Other Austin scores: Mike Fuhrman 83, Matt Schneider 85, Joe Hewitt 87, Mike Osboe 88, Jon Bain 92.
Austin girls defeated
Host Albert Lea topped the Austin girls’ golf team, 392 to 412, on Monday.
Packer Brittany Bertilson and Tiger Sara Westland tied for medalist honors with 89s.
Other Austin score: Claire Johnson 102, Andrea Peterson 106, Noelle Wiebelhaus 115, Alison Stutzman 117 and Margaret Wagner 129.
"It was a tight course," Austin coach Mark Anderson said of Green Lea.
After the match, Anderson’s players told him they’d use irons off the tee next time, since the woods were doglegging and slicing off the fairways.
"It was a learning experience," Anderson said of his young squad.
The Austin girls next play on Friday in the New Prague Invite.
Austin boys’ tennis falls
The winless Austin boys’ tennis team fell 6-1 in Faribault on Monday.
Austin’s No. 2, Sam Drong, picked up Austin’s lone win with a three-set victory, in which he fought back after losing the second set 6-0.
No. 1 singles player Andy Greenman also fought hard, losing in three sets.